Government shutdown votes will be exploited in 2014 elections

Make no mistake that the flurry of rhetoric going on now over a possible government shutdown will be bottled up then released in upcoming campaigns.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is using the opportunity to hammer away at targeted races in Illinois — including that of freshman U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) from the 13th district Downstate who is up in 2014.

Every Illinois House Republican voted this weekend for the GOP-crafted provision that would keep government open but delay Obamacare for a year. But it’s Davis who was getting hit over it by the DCCC.

“Congressman Davis himself said that voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act was ‘stupid’ and a ‘waste of time’ and that he opposed shutdowns, but then he voted with his Washington leaders Friday to give us a government shutdown anyway,” said DCCC spokesman Brandon Lorenz.

Expect the issue to come up in other targeted races, including what’s promising to be a spirited rematch between North Shore Congressman U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and the Republican he edged out last year — Bob Dold.

Meanwhile, an opponent to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is blasting out past votes by Durbin under Republican presidencies.

Durbin’s Republican challenger, Doug Truax of Downers Grove called his Durbin’s recent remarks about Republicans being irresponsible “another example of Durbin’s hypocrisy and blatant political partisanship,” saying Durbin refused to vote in favor of debt extensions, including under George W. Bush.

“We need leaders in Washington who stand on principle to help the American people, not partisan insiders who feign sincerity in order to score cheap political points,” Truax said.

On Sunday, Durbin (D-Ill.) told CBS’ “Face the Nation:”
“We’ve sent, from the Senate, a clean CR (continuing resolution) no strings attached. We didn’t demand the immigration bill pass or anything like that, a clean CR to keep the government in business and not hurt the economy. Ultimately, that’s what we should do,” Durbin said. “And I hope when it comes to the debt ceiling, we’ll do the same thing, extend the debt ceiling without endangering the economy. Then if the Republicans want to sit down and go into serious good-faith negotiations over any aspect of government, that’s how it should take place.”